Long Beach Police Department has been awarded a $133,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a yearlong program aimed at preventing deaths and injuries on our roadways through special enforcement and public awareness efforts. Long Beach Police Department will use the funding as part of an on-going commitment to keep our roadways safe through both enforcement and education.

“This grant will aid in the city’s ongoing effort to improve traffic safety and the quality of life,” Mayor Bob Foster said. “Motorists and residents throughout the City will benefit from the increased enforcement and awareness about traffic safety.”

The grant will assist in efforts to deal with traffic safety problems and to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in traffic collisions. While traffic deaths from all causes declined by nearly 39 percent between 2006 and 2010 in California, state and federal officials anticipate that figures will show a slight rise in 2011. DUI deaths remain the largest sector, at nearly 30 percent of traffic fatalities. Recent trends show increases in two new categories – distracted driving and drug-impaired driving.

“We are grateful to the Office of Traffic Safety for awarding us this grant,” said Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell. “In these fiscally challenging times, this grant will allow us to maintain our enforcement and education efforts to prevent and reduce injury traffic collisions and protect lives.”

“Despite the recent increases, California’s roadways are still very much safer than they were before 2006,” said OTS Director Christopher J. Murphy. “The Long Beach Police Department will be keeping the pressure on through enforcement and public awareness so that we can continue saving lives and reach the vision we all share – Toward zero deaths, every 1 counts.”

Funding for this program is from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.